TNAG-0615-FCO40-763-Visit-by-delegation-from-Heung-Yee-Kuk-(Rural-Consultive-Cou-1997 — Page 36

HONG KONG:

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference......

PETITION BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK

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1. Your query on the Governor's letter of 17 June refers. copy of Gov's

letter renclosures

2. I think that we will have to submit the draft reply to the Heung Yee Kuk's petition enclosed with the Governor's letter, as well as the letter itself. Previous petitions from the Heung Yee Kuk

there were two, I think, in 1975 and 1976 - were only answered after Lord Goronwy-Roberts had given his approval to the terms of the proposed replies. It seems the more necessary to follow this procedure on the present occasion since the Heung Yee Kuk's delegation actually presented the petition to the Minister of State and he under- took to reply to it, through the Governor, in the usual way. you agree, I will ask Mr David to prepare a draft submission.

3.

If

I think that the advice that the Governor has given us about the handling of the petition is sound. Lord Goronwy-Roberts wanted some concession to be made to the Heung Yee Kuk and the Governor has provided for this in the form of the proposed appointment of a representative of the Kuk to the Legislative Council (paragraph 10 of the Governor's letter). He does not say so but he presumably has in mind the Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk, whose possible appointment, subject to health considerations, he mentioned to you during your last visit to Hong Kong. The proposed draft reply to the Heung Yee Kuk's petition, while both robust and courteous, as the Governor has pointed out in his letter, seems to me a very thorough piece of work. As far as I can see, it deals with all the Heung Yee Kuk's points and does so in a reasonable and well-argued manner.

The very length of the reply 25 paragraphs in all might, hopefully, serve to persuade the Heung Yee Kuk that their petition has been given serious consideration.

G

21 June 1977

D.F. Millen

DF Milton

Hong Kong & General Department

CODE 18 - 77

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